[ad_1]
Finance, Public Spending and Reform Minister Paschal Donohoe said a decision has yet to be made on extending the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment beyond June 8.
Speaking on RTÉ Morning Ireland, Donohoe said he acknowledges the tension and concern of many people, adding that he wants to assure them that “we will do everything we can to keep the jobs we have.”
He said the government is evaluating what it could afford in the future and what happens to employment levels in Phase One to ease Covid-19 restrictions, which will begin on May 18.
The minister said that we have to get our country back to work.
Donohoe said he understands people’s concerns, but said the schemes are costing hundreds of millions of euros a week and “we want to strike the right balance.”
The effect of reopening the economy starting next week will determine how the government will manage emergency social assistance supports in the future, he said.
The Temporary Salary Subsidy Plan and the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will continue to preserve people’s incomes and jobs, he added.
He said the government will seek to assess what it can afford in the future when it sees what movement is happening among people in the PUP who return to work and move to TWSS.
Donohoe also said the government believes it can get people back to work while continuing efforts to contain Covid-19, but said the risks will continue.
Donohoe said engaging with stakeholders to explain risks and work to implement safety guidelines is key, in addition to having a gradual reopening of the economy to give time to understand the public health impact of decisions being made. taking.
He said that the health of construction workers is vital and that the Government has engaged intensively with the construction industry to ensure that there is clarity on the new guidelines so that they can have confidence that they will be implemented and can be monitored in the upcoming weeks.
[ad_2]